Created by Siddharth Sengupta and directed by Ashish R Shukla, Sony LIV’s upcoming web-series ‘Undekhi’ (which will start streaming on 10th July) is an interesting take on something that the character can’t unsee, much like the name. However, the play on the title in the overall plot is something quite layered which, when it starts streaming, the viewers will see.
When Saloni (Ayn Zoya), Rishi (Abhishek Chauhan) and their wedding photographer-videographer team are filming Daman (Ankur Rathee) and Teji (Anchal Singh)’s pre-wedding event, little did they know that they would end up tangled into a web of crimes. During an unannounced men-only event which Rishi is asked to video at unexpectedly, Daman’s father (Harsh Chhaya) gets inappropriate with a female dancer on stage and, when she doesn’t respond to his advances, he ends up taking out a gun and shooting her in the forehead. Rishi catches the entire incident on his camera and, after being shocked at what he’s witnessed, goes about trying to hide the footage. However, Rinku (Surya Sharma) is after the footage and starts by paying a visit to Rishi’s hotel room to try and get it. When DSP Ghosh (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) is put in charge of the case, things move in a direction which one doesn’t expect
The show’s USP is most definitely its entangled story and the colourful characters. It’s pace is fast in the most part and there are constant surprises as the episodes go on. Shukla manages to make the viewer feel like a bystander in the plot and this very much works in its favour. You feel like you are part of the inside and the outside of the Atwal family, always able to meander your way between who’s side you are actually on. It’s clever and keeps you there even in the few moments that she show loses pace.
The performances are fantastic but the ones that stand out the most are Bhattacharya’s and Sharma’s. They are on opposite sides but seem to play each off in such interesting manner throughout that it becomes a chase even when it isn’t one. Bhattacharya plays his career best in this series and one hopes to see more of him and more appreciation being sent his way. Sharma as Rinku is top of the game when it comes to hiding what the Atwal’s are about and protecting their honour in any way he can. He’s fearless, ruthless and downright unreasonable and this is what, quite frankly, makes him engaging. The other performances which are also commendable are those of Chauhan, Chhaya, Rathee and Singh who are very important cogs in the story. Chhaya is back in a villain’s role as Papa Ji and the fact that he seems to be the puppeteer without much authority is endearing in its own way. Chauhan as Rishi is the catalyst in the whole story and gives a decent performance in his role, with vulnerability and fear being top of the agenda for him. Rathee, after giving interesting performances up until now, plays Daman well, with a freshness of not being like the Atwal’s despite being the son of the family. Singh seems to slip in through the episodes as they go on, showing her real strength when she finds out the truth about her own father and how she needs to navigate into a family she’s entering through marriage; a family which is embroiled in controversy and criminal activities.
To conclude, ‘Undekhi’ is indeed a decent watch which is worth a watch. Apart from the very few down moments, the pace keeps one engaged and the constant twists and turns, as well as the intriguing characters, are the strength of the overall story which is a huge plus for any such series. Arguably, many may think these continuous intertwinings are a bit too much but it cannot be denied that they provide a freshness at every point, where the viewer isn’t always able to tell what is to happen next and this is a positive for this series.
